Frequently Asked Questions

Who can benefit from Audiblox?

Q: What learning difficulties does Audiblox address?
A: Audiblox is effective in addressing and correcting a variety of learning difficulties, including difficulties with reading, spelling, and handwriting. The Audiblox program also contains a language component, which is effective in overcoming a language problem. The language component is explained in the Audiblox manual.

The majority of Audiblox users have reading difficulties. According to the statistics more than 70 percent of people with learning difficulties have dyslexia or reading difficulties.

Generally, the term "dyslexia" is used to describe a severe reading problem, but there has been little agreement in the literature or in practice concerning the definition of severe or the specific distinguishing characteristics that differentiate dyslexia from other reading problems. Instead of getting involved in the wrangling over a definition, it is easier to use the "symptoms" below as an indication that a person has a reading problem and therefore needs help:

• One of the most obvious — and a common — telltale signs is reversals. People with this kind of problem often confuse letters like b and d, either when reading or when writing, or they sometimes read (or write) words like "rat" for "tar," or "won" for "now."

• Another sure sign, which needs no confirmation by means of any form of testing, is elisions, that is when a person sometimes reads or writes "cat" when the word is actually "cart."

• The person who reads very slowly and hesitantly, who reads without fluency, word by word, or who constantly loses his place, thereby leaving out whole chunks or reading the same passage twice, has a reading problem.

• The person may try to sound out the letters of the word, but then be unable to say the correct word. For example, he may sound the letters "c-a-t" but then say "cold."
  

• He may read or write the letters of a word in the wrong order, like "left" for "felt," or the syllables in the wrong order, like "emeny" for "enemy," or words in the wrong order, like "are there" for "there are."

• He may spell words as they sound, for example "rite" for "right."

• He may read with poor comprehension, or it may be that he remembers little of what he reads.

• The person may have a poor and/or slow handwriting. This problem is often referred to as "dysgraphia".

Q: Is Audiblox effective for math problems?
A: In the case of a learner who has reading and/or spelling difficulties, it is recommended that one deals with these problems first, before attending to a math problem. In most cases, one should see at least some improvement in math simply by following the relevant Audiblox programs. Once the learner's reading and spelling are on par, and still needs help with math, or if math is the only problem experienced by the learner, the advice below applies.

Mathematics is a subject that consists of three aspects:

The foundational skills of math, and many of the basic mathematical skills are taught and exercised by means of Audiblox, like for example counting, adding and subtracting, and multiplication tables. In the case of a younger learner, this should in most cases be sufficient to solve his math problem adequately.

When an older learner has problems with math, it may be because he has so far been unable to acquire the foundational skills and mathematical skills adequately and to learn the knowledge that has been presented to him. Through the Audiblox exercises he will acquire the foundational skills required for math, as well as some of the basic mathematical skills like counting, adding and subtracting, but he may also have fallen behind as far as other mathematical skills and also the knowledge aspect of math are concerned. It may therefore be advisable to send him for extra math classes also, in addition to doing Audiblox.

Q: Is Audiblox intended only for children with learning difficulties?
A: No, Audiblox is definitely not exclusively intended for children with learning difficulties. It can also be used to improve the learning and reading abilities of children who have no problems at all. One should consider that we do not provide athletics training to children and adults who are lame or uncoordinated. We take the talented ones, and through judicious training and exercise, we are able to turn them into great athletes. The same applies on the mental plane. If we take the talented, intelligent and creative children and expose them to Audiblox training, we shall be able to turn them into great mental athletes.

Q: From what age can one use the Audiblox program?
A: Audiblox can be used from about three years and upwards. The Audiblox manual contains a program for preschool use. Until a child reaches the age of three, language is the most important intellectual aspect to take care of. Read the article Talk Your Child Clever.

Q: Is Audiblox suitable for high school learners and adults?
A: Yes. Note that an adult cannot use Audiblox by himself. Another person, such as the adult's husband or wife, must play the role of tutor.